Every Movie Referenced in the MCU That Creates a Plot Hole, Paradox, or Breaks the Franchise

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe, much like the comic books it’s inspired by, has always strived to create a world that feels relatable and real. It achieves this through both the grounded tone of its movies and by including references to our world. Sometimes, these references take the form of real-life people appearing in the films – for example, Iron Man featured an appearance on Mad Money With Jim Cramer, where Cramer advised viewers to sell their Stark Industries stock, and Iron Man 2 included a surprise cameo from Bill O’Reilly.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) attempts to create a sense of realism by referencing other films. Initially, these references were quick jokes or lighthearted moments used for character development – like Captain America famously acknowledging a reference to flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. However, as the MCU has expanded, some of these references have become strained and even create inconsistencies within the established continuity, appearing out of place and difficult to explain.

17) Alien (1979)

Just as Marvel’s The Avengers moves into the final act of the movie, a surprising cameo happens that feels a bit out of place for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The scene shows the Hulk crashing into an old warehouse, and when Bruce Banner comes to, he’s questioned by a security guard – played by the iconic Harry Dean Stanton – who wonders if he’s an extraterrestrial.

Fans of film will remember Harrison Ford starring in Alien. While initially just a playful nod to the movie, the Alien franchise has been mentioned repeatedly throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters in other films and shows, like Spider-Man in Avengers: Infinity War, have brought it up, and the upcoming Wonder Man will include another reference. As the MCU increasingly treats Alien as if it were a real series of events, the original joke loses its impact.

16) The Lord of the Rings

During The Avengers, Iron Man playfully calls Hawkeye “Legolas,” a nod to Orlando Bloom’s character from The Lord of the Rings. While it’s possible Stark is referencing the books, it’s more likely he’s referring to the films. This is especially interesting considering several actors have appeared in both franchises – Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, and Karl Urban all went on to work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after The Avengers. It’s also worth remembering that the MCU already had two Lord of the Rings actors in its cast at that time: Hugo Weaving and Liv Tyler.

It’s also worth noting the connection between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and The Hobbit films – both featured actors like Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. While it’s safe to say these actors weren’t part of the MCU at the time, it’s an interesting overlap. Furthermore, Wētā FX, the company behind the visual effects for The Lord of the Rings, also contributed to the effects in The Avengers.

15) Star Wars

As a huge MCU fan, I always get a kick out of Steve Rogers trying to catch up on everything he missed! His list in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is full of fun pop-culture references, and it’s interesting how those references actually exist within the MCU timeline. The first one we clearly see is Star Wars, which is cool because Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson were both in those films! I always figured his notebook probably just referred to the original Star Wars, maybe the prequels didn’t happen in this universe. But then you remember Harrison Ford eventually becoming President in the MCU, and it totally messes with things! It’s a fun little detail that shows how interconnected everything is.

14) Star Trek

Following Star Wars, the list includes Star Trek. It seems the intention is for him to watch the original series, but several actors who’ve become famous in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—like Zoe Saldaña and Chris Hemsworth—now appear in the newer Star Trek films.

13) Rocky

The last film featured in the notebook is the 1976 classic Rocky. It stars and was written by Sylvester Stallone, who Marvel fans may recognize as Stakar Ogord from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

12) Pulp Fiction

At the end of The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury’s fake tombstone includes a clear nod to Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. It displays a bible verse – Ezekiel 25:17 – famously recited by Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winfield. While a fun reference, it raises a lot of questions about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If the verse exists on Fury’s tombstone, does that mean Pulp Fiction is part of the MCU timeline? It’s a head-scratcher, and best not to dwell on it too much.

11) Starman

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Peter Quill’s mother, Meredith, jokingly says she fell in love with a “starman” when recalling her relationship with Ego. While this likely just means he was an alien, it’s an interesting choice of words. “Starman” immediately brings to mind the 1984 movie of the same name starring Jeff Bridges (who also played Obidiah Stane in the first Iron Man film). It’s possible the line is actually a nod to David Bowie, though, and it leaves fans debating which reference the filmmakers intended.

10) Mallrats

Stan Lee’s cameo in Captain Marvel is particularly amusing: he’s seen reading the script for Kevin Smith’s Mallrats while riding a bus in Los Angeles. It’s a funny moment considering the film is set in the 1990s, but it’s also a bit mind-bending. Mallrats famously includes jokes about the private parts of the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four. While the MCU version of Mallrats might not have focused on those characters, it’s a significant part of the movie, and Lee’s appearance references it directly.

9) Raiders of the Lost Ark

In Avengers: Endgame, Rhodey makes a quick joke referencing the classic opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark. He half-expects a temple they’re exploring to be filled with dangerous traps – “like spikes and skeletons!” – mirroring a famous sequence from the Harrison Ford film. While this could be a coincidence, another connection is coming up…

8) Hot Tub Time Machine

During a conversation about time travel in Avengers: Endgame, the heroes brought up several movies like Back to the Future, Terminator, and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, noting that none of them create paradoxes. They jokingly mentioned Hot Tub Time Machine, but that movie actually presents a tricky problem. Why? Because Sebastian Stan, who plays a major character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is one of the stars. This raises the question: how can Hot Tub Time Machine logically exist within the established MCU timeline?

7) The Big Lebowski (1998)

Okay, so this movie moment totally blew my mind! When Thor shows up looking… well, a mess – long beard, shades, comfy sweater – Tony just calls him “Lebowski!” It’s hilarious because he does look exactly like The Dude. But here’s the thing that messed with my head: Jeff Bridges is already in the Marvel universe as Iron Man’s very first villain! How would Tony even know who The Dude is? And who was The Dude in the MCU? Honestly, it’s one of those things where you just have to laugh and not think about it too much, you know?

6) DC

The Marvel movie Eternals subtly acknowledges the existence of DC Comics within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Characters are directly compared to DC icons – Ikaris to Superman, and Karun to Alfred, Batman’s butler. These comparisons are quick references for viewers, but they raise interesting questions. How well does DC Comics thrive in a world with established superheroes? What alternate history exists for their crossover events with Marvel? It’s also worth noting that Andy Serkis, a recent actor who played Alfred, is now part of the MCU.

5) Avatar

In the first episode of Moon Knight, when someone mentions an avatar, Steven Grant jokingly references James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar, saying, “Avatar – blue people. Love that film.” Interestingly, Avatar stars Zoe Saldaña, who also plays Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. This has led fans to speculate that, since Gamora is an alien, Saldaña is still part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though it’s best not to overthink it.

4) Godzilla

Towards the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, when Scott and Cassie share a giant-sized hug, Ant-Man jokes it feels like hugging Godzilla. This might just be a general reference to the famous monster, but the 2014 Godzilla film featured Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen – both of whom would later appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Interestingly, they played a married couple in Godzilla a year before portraying siblings in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

3) Dead Poets Society (1989)

In The Marvels, Kamala Khan quotes, “Oh captain, my captain!” to Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers). While she might simply be referencing the famous poem, the line is a clear nod to its impactful use in the film Dead Poets Society. Interestingly, Ethan Hawke, who starred in Dead Poets Society, also plays a character in Moon Knight.

2) Man of Steel (2013)

The latest Deadpool & Wolverine trailer is particularly chaotic, and that’s saying something for a Deadpool movie! The films, like the comics before them, are known for referencing other properties and directly acknowledging the audience. This new trailer takes that even further. While searching the multiverse for Wolverine replacements, Deadpool encounters a version played by Henry Cavill – quickly nicknamed “The Cavillrine” by fans. In a short clip, Deadpool even jokes, promising to treat this Wolverine much better than whoever had him before.

This joke references Henry Cavill’s experience playing Superman in the DC Universe, and how circumstances beyond his control created uncertainty about his future with the role – especially considering the issues with the post-credit scene in Black Adam just two years prior. However, the joke makes it very unlikely Cavill could join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he’s already played a version of Wolverine. It also adds a layer of reality to a joke made by Deadpool.

1) Mad Max: Fury Road

When Deadpool enters the Void, he jokes that it looks like the world of Mad Max, even mentioning the character Furiosa. Interestingly, Furiosa was played by Charlize Theron, who had already been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – she appeared in a post-credits scene for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as Clea, though she hasn’t played that role again yet.

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2026-01-22 16:43